Rich Medina - Interview

-Where are you from?

I'm from Lakewood New Jersey originally, but I've been living in Philadelphia since 1992.
- How long have you been djing?

I've been a DJ since I was 11 years old.
I've been a "professional" DJ for far less time haha.

- Who are some of the OG DJs that inspired/influenced you when you were just getting started?

Larry Levan
Shep Pettibone
Ernie Kendall
DJ Cheese
DJ Cool V
DJ Bassy
DJ Scorpio
Kid Capri
Pete DJ Jones
Mr Scott
Afrika Bambaataa
Grand Wizard Theodore
Grandmaster Flash
+++++++++++++++++++ i could go on...

- You're known to play an ill variety of different genres. What's some of your favorites you like to rock?

Afrobeat
Rare Groove
Tropicalia
Random province funk from brown countries
House
R&B
Hip Hop

- and who are some of your favorite artists/groups?

Cold Crush
Rock Steady
Stevie WOnder
Fela Kuti
James Brown
Andy Bey
Donny Hathaway
Roberta Flack
The Funk Brothers
The Mizell Brothers
Nas
De La
The Roots
Marvin Gaye
Gil Scott Heron
Philly International
Every artist that ever appeared on Soul Train and AMerican Bandstand
++++++++ i could go on....

-Top 5 records that never leave your crate?

Fela - Fogo Fogo
James Brown - The Big Payback
Tribe Called Quest - Jam
DJ Spinna & Sean Escoffery - Days Like This
The Blackbirds - Reggins


- What's one of your holy-grails that you own?....and one that you're still looking for?

East Of Underground is one of my grails.
Looking for far too much other holy shit to mention here fam....

- What do you like to do outside of djing?

Time with my family
basketball
drawing
MMA
Good weed
Good rum
Good people
Listening to my favorite DJs and artists play live

- What can we expect out of RM in the near future?

Expect more hard work, diversified business and branding, and new music from my studio very soon.

- Top 5 DJs of all-time?

Impossible. Some of them haven't been born yet, and some are still coming into their own.

But for starters:
Larry Levan

I can't put anyone else on the all time list at the moment. I'd like to believe that one day you're gonna ask another person this question and they might consider me. Still working for that, as are many of my peers, many of whom who could contend for this list...

- What's the dopest country outside of the US, that you enjoy rockin' whenever you're out there?

Japan
England
Holland

Have yet to go to africa, but considering my love for and representation of West African music, I assume Africa will be added to that list within a year.

- Name 3 things your fans may not know about you?

I was a competitive roller speed skating champion as a 12 year old.
I love fried chicken and watermelon like "all Black people".
I dunked on Rick Fox ( North Carolina/LA Lakers) in college.

- Any shout-outs?

My mom.
My lady.
My son.

I love you all more than life itself